Act III, scenes i–iii

Act III, scenes i–iii

Act III, scenes i–iii

Act III, scenes i–iii

Act III, scenes i–iii

Summary: Act III, scene i

Viola, still in disguise as Cesario, has returned to Lady
Olivia’s house to bring her another message of love from Orsino
(the errand that Orsino sends Cesario on at the end of Act II, scene
iv). Outside Olivia’s house, Cesario meets Feste, the clown. Feste
jokes and makes puns with him. Cesario jokes with comparable skill
and good-naturedly gives Feste some coins for his trouble. Feste
goes inside to announce the arrival of Cesario to Olivia.

Sir Toby and Sir Andrew arrive in the garden and, meeting
Cesario for the first time, make some rather awkward conversation
with him. The situation is made awkward by the fact that Sir Andrew behaves
foolishly, as usual, and both men are slightly drunk. Sir Toby invites
Cesario into the house, but before they can enter, Olivia comes
down to the garden, accompanied by Maria. She sends everyone else
away in order to listen to what Cesario has to say.

Once alone with Cesario, Olivia suddenly begs him not
to give her any more love messages from Orsino. She lets Cesario
know how deeply in love with him she is. Cesario tells Olivia as
politely as he can that he cannot love her. Olivia seems to accept
this rejection, but she realizes privately that she cannot so easily
get rid of her love for this beautiful young man, even if he scorns
her. Cesario swears to Olivia that no woman shall ever be mistress
of his heart and turns to go. But Olivia begs him to come back again,
suggesting desperately that maybe Cesario can convince her to love
Orsino after all.

Summary: Act III, scene ii

Back in Olivia’s house, Sir Andrew tells Sir Toby that
he has decided to leave. He says that he has seen Olivia fawning
over Cesario in the orchard, and he seems to realize at last that
Olivia is not likely to marry him. But Sir Toby—who wants to keep
Andrew around because he has been spending Sir Andrew’s money—tells
Sir Andrew that he ought to stay and show off his manliness for
her. Fabian helps Sir Toby in his persuasion, assuring Sir Andrew
that Olivia might only have been teasing him and trying to make
him jealous. Sir Andrew agrees, and Sir Toby encourages him to challenge
Cesario to a duel, in order to prove his love for Olivia.

Maria comes in and reports that Malvolio is behaving
like an absolute ass—he has been doing everything that the letter
has asked him to do. He is wearing yellow stockings and crossed
garters and will not stop smiling—all in all, he is more ridiculous
than ever before. Sir Toby and Fabian eagerly follow Maria to see
what is going on.

Summary: Act III, scene iii

Elsewhere, in the streets of Illyria, we find
that Sebastian and Antonio have at last arrived at their destination.
We learn that Antonio is not safe in Illyria: it seems that Duke
Orsino’s men are hostile to him, for many years ago Antonio was
involved in a sea fight against Orsino in which he did them much
damage. But Antonio’s love for Sebastian has caused him to defy
the danger and come with Sebastian to Illyria.